Klamathon death toll remains at one

By Skye Kinkadeskinkade@siskiyoudaily.com

Wednesday

Jul 11, 2018 at 9:42 AM

Despite a canine alerting the Sheriff’s Department to a second possible deceased person in the rubble of the Klamathon Fire, investigators found no evidence of second death, according to a press release from CAL FIRE yesterday evening.

Despite a canine alerting the Sheriff’s Department to a second possible deceased person in the rubble of the Klamathon Fire, investigators found no evidence of second death, according to a press release from CAL FIRE yesterday evening.

An autopsy on the earlier reported fatality will be conducted today. The deceased, whose name has not been released, was located near a Hornbrook residence that was heavily damaged by fire, according to CAL FIRE.

Firefighters are gaining ground on the Klamathon, which was 60 percent contained as of this morning. Sparked off Klamathon Road and Copco Road around 12:30 p.m. on July 5, the fire has burned 36,500 acres and destroyed 82 structures.

“Minimal fire behavior was observed last night with the same behavior anticipated today,” CAL FIRE stated in their morning release. The fire continues to burn in the Horseshoe Ranch Wildlife area, Soda Mountain Wildnerness and Klamath National Forest.

Evacuation warnings remain in effect in the Copco Lake area, but residents were allowed to return home last night.

The possible second death was investigated after a canine alerted a Sheriff’s Deputy to the presence of a cadaver while inspecting a burned residence on Monday, July 9. However, no evidence of a deceased person was found, the release states.

The Sheriff’s Department will continue investigating the results of canine alerts, said Siskiyou County Sheriff Jon Lopey.

As for the confirmed fatality, “it may take several weeks to conclusively determine the cause of death, pending the return of toxicology and related reports,” the release states. “The positive identification of the deceased is still pending confirmation, but investigators are making progress through various forensic analyses.”

Those with information should call the Sheriff Department’s 24 hour dispatch center at (530) 841-2900.

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